REI Flash 62

Great weekend or multi-day pack. Well made with easy access and just the right amount of pockets. Choice of backpackers and those looking for good priced, durable pack.

I recently borrowed this for a trip to Glacier National Park. I used it on a 4 day non-stop trip in the backcountry. It felt good on my hips, packed all I needed, and was well made.

Just to give you a picture of how I used it, here is how I packed: tent was rolled and placed vertically in the middle of the bag (no tent bag, all wrapped in body of tent), around that I stuffed my sleeping bag (20 degree) to fill in the space, around that I put clothes and Mountain House meals. All of these items are inside of a hefty garbage back.  

I first put the bag inside to line the pack.  If I need to remove all of my belongs from the pack, I just lift on the garbage bag.  Also, it can double as a rain cover if needed and keeps the inside of my pack clean. On the outside vertical zipper I had snacks and those foods I would access during the day. In the top compartment I had the other items like map, toiletries, sunscreen, etc.  Another individual had the stove and fuel. I packed it maybe to 50 liters and still had room. Packing a stove and fuel would have been no problem. The 62 liter seems accurate.

I enjoyed the zipper access in the hip belts, perfect for snacks on the go. I used one Nalgene and one Platypus in each of the side pockets to access my water.  It felt well made and, when properly adjusted, felt fine on my hips, shoulders, and chest. 

There were no other noteworthy or unique features.  I don't need a ridiculous amount of hoops or pockets.  This had enough and if I used trekking poles, it could have accommodated them too (at the bottom of the pack).  For those who want access to a separate compartment for your sleeping bag at the bottom of the pack, sorry, doesn't really exist. There is a zipper though to access the main compartment from the bottom.

Overall, it is well made and is generally on sale from REI. Great for that person looking to get into hiking and doesn't want to pay a fortune or have a huge 70+ liter pack.  See the picture below for reference.  It includes the items I mentioned above.

I would recommend this pack for someone who casually or seriously hikes multiple day trips. It is extremely comfortable, has all the features I would want, and does so while being very lightweight.

This pack has been a pleasure to use on all types of backpacking trips. There are different sizes and it would be best to get measured to be sure. This particular pack was designed for men.

The pack is very comfortable. The back pad vents extremely well especially compared to other packs I've used. The straps are all very adjustable and very comfortable. Easy to adjust on the move without much effort.

It fits a good amount of gear. I usually don't bring too much and find myself having a little extra room on most trips depending on which season I'm using it in.

The pack is designed very intuitively. Easy to get to and it is nice to have the bottom access as well as the top. Some pockets for gear but not excessive which is ok with me because of its lightweight. It also compresses pretty well on the days when I bring less which is nice.

The pack feels pretty stable. It distributes weight fairly well if packed with thought. It stays pretty comfortable at relatively heavy weights but like anything I would imagine, too much weight makes it a little less enjoyable.

All the features work well. I really like its water resistance. It's nice not having to worry too much about a little rain. The waterproof zippers are a nice feature as well. It's made well. It has held up to some abuse although I haven't been extremely rough on it yet. My girlfriend however has the women's version. She found a rip in hers after our first trip out with it. Luckily REI is awesome and let her exchange it for a new one which she hasn't had any problems with so far.

I have had this pack for two years. I've used it primarily on weekend backcountry trips in N.Y. state and Pennsylvania. Last year, I also got to use it in Rocky Mountain National Park as well as Zion National Park. It has held up extremely well and I look forward to using it every time. I recommend this pack.

Great pack but needs a few modifications.

I have owned this pack for almost two years now. I have used it a lot and pretty hard. It has been in the rain, snow, and sand.

My experience is about the same as everyone else's; the belt slips and hip belt pockets are too small. I like the pack well enough that I decided to just modify it rather than purchase a different pack. I added a second buckle to keep the hip belt from slipping and I made the top cover detachable. I have not done anything with the hip belt pockets yet though. 

As to the waterproofness, I purchased a cover for a few bucks and that has worked very well.  I have sewn up a few tears and it has some battle scars.

I like the pack, it works fine for me. I can put a BV500 in it along with my tent, sleeping bag or quilt, pad, some clothes, etc.  It does good. There are probably packs I would like better however this pack is still in good condition and now that I have stopped the hip belt from slipping my comfort level is much higher. I can't justify replacing it.  Keep your load around 30 lbs or less, although I have had much more in it but I paid for that load!!

It was a good buy when I got mine and the prices are better now.

This pack provides excellent load support and it comfortable to wear to boot. The bag holds quite a bit yet the weight is fairly light; the hip belt is good but the pockets are too small and the belt slips at higher weights.

I have had this pack for a few weeks now, and overall, I like the changes REI made to the Flash series.

The shortcomings are few; the pockets on the hip belt are too small and the belt itself slips at weights around 40' which I understand is the upper limit for this pack. At 30' the pack carries very well; the frame flexes nicely, and it feels good. 

I train with my pack at least 3 days a week and I travel off trail mostly, and so far I like it. I think it compares nicely to the pre-2005 Osprey Aether 60. While not the lightest pack I think it is a nice compromise between an ultralight pack and a traditional pack.

This is a very light pack with great hip and shoulder support for an UL backpack. Open wrap around pouch in back is great for a wet tent until you get to next camp. Back long zip pocket is good for water filter and rain gear.

I am a 5'11", 220lbs, male. Pack was very comfortable on 3-day backpack in Big Cypress National Preserve. Hip belts and shoulder straps are very comfortable. I was carrying between 30 to 35 lbs. I do switch load from hip belt to shoulder straps and back as the day goes along. I do this with all packs. Pack did not absorb the heavy overnight dew.

The capacity was accurate. Everything I needed fit. I do not like top loading packs, but I was able to pack with ease. Side straps allowed me to tighten up the pack so that my load did not shift. Top bag straps allowed me to strap down great. I did not have that top wobbly feel.  

This was the second trip I made with this pack. Both trips were 3 days long. One in the Everglades and one in the mountains of West Virginia. I have only had this pack for less than a year.